Lock for pay toilets



J. SMITH LOCK FOR PAYv TOILETS i Filed Dec. 7, 1928 llllllllll i l?, E

I `lune l24, 1930.

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Patented `lune 24, 1930 JOSEPH SMITH, or HonoKEN, New YORK LOCK FOR PAY TOILETSy Application led December 7,.,1928. Serial No. 324,379.

This invention relates to improvements in locks, particularly coin-controlled locks, and -more particularly to locks intended for use with pay toilets and it is the principal object of my invention to provide a lock of this character of very simple and therefore inexpensive construction, yet durable and eliicient in its operation.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a coin-controlled lock 01' this type which simultaneously with the locking and unlocking operations of the door handle changes a sign indicating whether a toilet is vacant or taken.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a lock equipped with means for automatically closing the coin slot upon the closing of the door after occupancy, while opening and resetting the slot and sign after 2o the toilet has been vacated.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become more fully known as the description thereof proceeds and will then be more specifically defined in the appended claim. y

In the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a lock constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation thereof,

and

Fig. 3 is an edge view seen in the direction of arrows 3 3 of Figure 2.

The lock as illustrated comprises a casing 10 between the frontl and rear plates of which the divided spindles 11, 12, for the door knobs or the like are turnably mounted.

A vertical dog 13 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, as at let, between the front and rear walls or" the casing and is normally engaging with its lower end a shoulder 15 of a dog 16 pivotally secured at its lower end to the spindle 11.

The dog 13 is held in its approximately vertical position by means of a spring 17 secured at one end to the head part of the dog 13 and at its opposite end to ay pin in one of the side walls of casing 10. The dog 13 has the front part of its head somewhat protrud- 5 ing into a coin slot and concaved, asat 18 to `'suit the'outer contour of a coin introduced 'through coin slot 19, Iadapted to repress the dog 13 against the action of spring 17 in order to disengage its lower end from shoulder 15 yont dog 16, so that handle 12 can be operated to open the door, as the operation of the spindle 'will engage dog 16 on the same with a pin 20 on the door latch 21 and retract, the

the reading Vacant normally appearing behind its slot 27 Vand a slot in the casing to H Taken7 or' the like inscription.

The plate 26 has at its outer end an extension. 28 adapted to cover with its upper bent end the coin slot during the occupancy ,of the toilet, and a spring 29 secured at one H end to pin 25 and at the other end to a pin 30 in the sidewall of casing 10 and engaging a recess 31 in plate 26. y

A pawl 32 is pivotally secured intermediate its ends on a pin protruding from one of the side walls of casing 10, and its weighted end is normally engaging a recess in the upper edge of plate 26 to hold the same in retracted position, while the operation of handle spindle 12 will engage dog 16 with i' pawl 32 and turn the same about its pivot point to release plate 26 for the action of spring 29.

The lock operates as follows.

Upon the insertion of a coin in slot 19, the same will press dog 13 towards the inside and its lower end will be releasedr from Shoulder 15, allowing a rotation of the handle on spindle 11 which will retract latch 21 and plate 26 to allow an opening of the door and change in the legend Vacant to Taken while the coin will fall to the bottom of the casing 10,

from where it may be removed by opening the front plate by means of'a key introduced through the keyhole at the lett hand lower corner of Figure 2. The parts are held in this position by the engagement of pawl 32 with the recess in plate 26, and the extension- 28 will close the coin slot. Y

If occupant desires to leave the toilet he turns handle on spindle 12, and thereby moves dog 16 into engagement with pawl 32 Y so that the saine will be removed'fromitsengagement of the recess in plate 26 and allow the same to move outwards to give `slot/"19 free, and change the sign from TakenWto Vacant, while spring 17 will hold dog 13 in engagement with shoulder Vli'faridiset the parts for a new operation.

. n is to be understoouy-hatram-awaited and shown therpreferredform of my lock as yexample only Y of' the many possible wayslto -construct the Same in'practice,` and that Inlay fmale'such changes inthegeneral arrangegoment of`theele1nents,"and in the construcvtion of the minor detailsas comewthin the scopej `o1 the appended claiml without departture" from "my invention 'and the 'principles involved. y n Having" thus v'described my invention7 vwhat 1I' claim `as `new,' and vdesireto secure' by Let- 'tersrPate'ntisz A p y In'a'loclqpreferably `for payltoilets; acas- `ingfhaving acoin slotya. dog having alhead 3o with lla concave edge,' springV for normally keeping; said headto partly close the coin slot,` a' 'divided' harfdle spindle, la 'dog engaged lbyf said; irst'nam'eddog,v saidengagement to y be interrupted' by theinsertion'of a coin, a Y

r vsign plate A'having a slot closing' extension,

'f means ifor holding said extensionl in Yslot closing positionwhile'thetoilet is occupied, and afmeans for lifreeing lsaid"} late and orj rele'asing if the l llock upon the operation of one 40 part .of-said handle spindle. Y

"SignedatNe-w York in( thecounty 'fl'New "York andfState of New York this'ith'dayv of ,'December, A. D. 1928. y kJOSEPH SMITH. 

